Hip Sports Injuries

The hip joint will help keep you stable as you twist and turn through a wide range of motions. Hip pain caused by an injury or overuse can leave you idle.

The most common hip sports-related injuries can be caused by overuse. Activities, such as running or bicycling, can cause stress on the hips, which may lead to the following conditions:

Hip bursitis – an inflammation of the bursa, which is a small sac of fluid that helps cushion the hip joint.

Hip flexor strain – the hip muscles become stretched or torn.

Stress fracture – small cracks in the bone due to repetitive stress from high-impact aerobic exercise.

Other hip injuries may occur suddenly as a result of a fall or direct blow to the hip or an abnormal twisting of the leg. These are known as sudden (acute) injuries, and they include:

Dislocated hip – the hip bone is pulled or pushed out of place.

Contusion (or bruising) – small blood vessels under the skin rupture, which causes blood to leak into the tissues under the skin. This results in a black-and-blue coloring.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is also a hip condition, which usually affects younger athletes who have a deformity at the top of the femur or the socket. This results in abnormal contact between the ball of the hip and the rim of the hip socket. This is known as a hip impingement. Athletes who participate in football, soccer, dance, cheerleading, and martial arts may be affected by this condition. These sports require frequent rotation of the hip joint.

Symptoms and treatment of hip sports injuries

Pain and discomfort inside your hip or groin area may indicate a problem with your hip joint. And pain on the outside of your hip, thighs, or buttocks may indicate a problem with your muscles, tendons, or ligaments.

Additional symptoms may include

Inflammation

Low back pain in addition to hip pain

Increased stiffness or pain during and after athletic activities

Pain in the hip and groin area

Mechanical hip problems, such as clicking, locking, and snapping

Pressure or tightness

Treatments at home

If your hip pain is minor, you may want to

Avoid the activity for a few days

Rest and try not to sleep on the affected side

Take over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen

Wear flat shoes that are cushioned and comfortable

When to contact a doctor

Contact your doctor if you have sudden hip pain or if your pain persists after 1 week of treatment at home.

Non-surgical treatments

Non-surgical treatments may include treatments at home, such as rest, physical therapy to help strengthen your hip and increase flexibility, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication.

Surgical treatments

Hip injuries may require surgery after proper diagnosis in order to restore and regain the function. Hip arthroscopy is one type of surgery, which uses a tiny camera to look inside your knee.

Find a sports medicine location for hip injuries.

Get treated for your hip injury at one of our conveniently located sports medicine locations in the Detroit Metro area.